The 5 best shopping spots in Seoul

Wearing pastel colours under long blue navy coats, Koreans developed a style of their own, elegant and beyond compare. Here is our selection of addresses to build a wardrobe like theirs.

Myeong-dong, temple of consumerism

In the Land of the Morning Calm, Myeong-dong keeps on standing out. In order to start your shopping spree, we invite you to roam one of Seoul's must-go-to districts. The constant hustle and bustle of this shopping enclave will take you away. Lose yourself between Korean fashion outlets, renowned beauty shops and famous luxury companies. As K-Pop songs fill the air, Koreans and tourists mingle in this bastion of consumerism lit up with overlarge billboards.
Do you feel like a solitary walker? Then get away from Myeong-dong's agitation and discover hidden narrow streets where you're likely to find surprising items. You'll also be able to eat local specialities in street food stalls, from the hotteok (thick Chinese pancakes) to the eomuk (crushed and steamed fish dough to be dipped in soy sauce). Give it a try!

Myeong-dongJung-gu district

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Gangnam, as a showcase of Korean exuberance

Psy's hit song Gangnam Style made the district famous in the Western world. This other shopping mecca is not-to-be-missed. Just like Myeong-dong, this Korean Times Square gives way to excess in every shape or form, with huge billboards and screens overlooking large avenues.
Gangnam is a posh neighbourhood, known for its modernity, dynamism and embarrassment of riches and very much thought after by well-to-do tourists. It offers luxury shops, independent fashion outlets as well as Korean and international brands, for your own enjoyment. In your conquest of Korean fashion, allow yourself a few food breaks in the many restaurants of the district. You can also make a stop in charming hotels, be entertained at the Seven Luck Casino or COEX Aquarium, or improve your knowledge at the Seoul Arts Center. Only then will you resume your quest, en route to Apgujeong-dong or Garosu-gil. What are you waiting for?

In the midst of a district favoured by the Korean youth, you'll be won over by the joyful atmosphere of Hongdae. Outdoor karaokes, street art performances and student nights out give it a rebellious sense of extravagance that never stops until dawn. It is in that electrified setting that you will pass by multiple independent and vintage shop windows. Visiting Hongdae is a perfect occasion for learning about the secrets of Korean fashion, known to have subtly mastered a sometimes garish old school style.
For typically Korean clothes, do not hesitate and head over to one of Seoul's most exceptional neighbourhoods. You may even give in to the Korean couple trend, and leave the capital wearing the same outfit as your love.

Hongik universityMapo-gu district

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Namdaemun the genuine

There is nothing that can't be found in Namdaemun. In this district where skyscrapers are erected as symbols of national pride and prosperity, a traditional Korean gem remains: the Namdaemun market. It is as popular as it is genuine. Located between Yongsan (a neighbourhood full of contradictions marked by war and livened up by the I'Park mall) and the very touristy Jongno, this traditional stronghold gathers up to 10,000 shops and stalls, offering a bewildering choice of products. Go with the flow and stroll around this maze of colourful stands, where you'll find clothes, flowers, local produce, art items and traditional pearls.
Roam the almost 70 hectares of merchandise and dare bargain! The products are quite often made by the shop owners themselves.

Namdaemun market21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil
Jung-gu
Seoul

+82 (0)2 753 2805

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Seoul's giant malls

Seoul keeps on throwing surprise after surprise. The city counts several neighbourhoods, all more modern than the last, and delusions of grandeur now find their reflection in the skyscrapers' glass windows. Taking their toll from Western urban plans, Seoul has been building huge shopping malls for decades now.
If your dream is to lose yourself amidst dozens of shops, movie theatres, ice rinks and hotels of these 3, 4 or 5-floor-high colossuses, Seoul will surely become your very own paradise. Shopping malls like Times Square, D-Cube City, I'Park Mall and Lotte Department Store will satisfy your every need. You will never lack in anything!